East Africa
West Africa
Japan
RSA
Namibia
NZ
Australia
Brazil
China
India
Thailand
Europe
UK
Canada
USA
Indonesia
University of Stellenbosch Business School
DBA and MBA; MPhil degrees in Development Finance,
Futures Studies and Management Coaching; Postgraduate
Diplomas in Dispute Settlement and Leadership
USB Executive Development (Pty) Ltd
The USB aims to establish lifelong involvement with its alumni!
Our objectives:
•
To ensure that our alumni advocate the USB by being positive ambassadors
•
To get meaningful support from our alumni for:
•
Events, projects, academic activities
•
Bursary Programme and other fundraising efforts
•
USB Social Engagement initiatives
•
To get quality advice for our Advisory Board and committees
•
To gain access to:
•
Business, public sector and government
•
Global community
•
Industry
The USB Alumni Relations Office has the task of facilitating the effective
cooperation between all its stakeholders:
Continuous Learning Events
• Leader’s Angle: Monthly presentation on business trends and new thinking by visiting professors, business leaders and academic authors
• We Read for You: Bi-monthly academic forum discussing current business books
• Master Classes: Ad hoc one day courses on a particular topic
• Annual Refresher Seminar: 2-day business top up lectures and workshop
Publications
• USB e-News – fortnightly
• Printed USB Agenda magazine - biannually
• Online Leaders’ Lab research journal – biannually
• USB website and dedicated alumni portal
Networking events
• Social as well as formal gatherings with prominent speakers
Non-Profit Organisation Programme
• Alumni founded the programme and manage it with support from USB and USB-ED
• 2012’s part-time MBA students raised money for1 NPO manager to enrol. The MBA students also assisted with skills development. MBA students now have better idea of how alumni are involved.
Rewards and recognition
•
Establish the connection
• Dedicated manager for alumni relations
• Increased communication through eNewsletter, Twitter, LinkedIn groups, USB Agenda
• Alumni web portal to update details, to provide information on events and committee members, to give access to publications, research and DVDs, to get involved and to give access to exclusive resources like job opportunities, refresher videos, alumni business services
•
Create committees that are committed and fresh
• Arrange AGM for each region
• New committee and chairperson for each region
•
Establish specific committee portfolios
• Each region chooses portfolios based on its specific requirements, e.g.: Communication & Networking Business Development Continuous Learning Social Engagement Bursary Fund Student Advancement Recognition &Celebration
•
Build the USB brand
• Each region gets its own email header
Strongest membership – 6000
Very diverse membership
- 350
Most active members - 2900
Largest membership outside SA
- 1700
New committee full of ideas -
600
Widely spread members
- 500
•
By taking a more personal approach!
•
Send regional emails instead of mass emails
•
Phone alumni and personally invite them to events in their region
•
Engage on various social media platforms
•
MBA selection interview process:
§
300 alumni from all over the world – including New York, Geneva,
Nairobi, Jakarta and Springbok – responded to request for assistance
§
Alumni phoned, emailed and visited the Alumni Office to say:
Ø “How else can I help?”
Ø “I really enjoyed the interview and would like to stay in contact with the
candidate.”
• SA, Namibia, E&W Africa, Europe and UK • Committees: Chairperson with 3-15 members
• Liaises between
USB/USB-ED
and Alumni
Association
• Link between Alumni
Association and USB/USB-ED • Conveys strategy of
Association to Committees and alumni
• Link between USB/USB-ED and Alumni Association • Full member of Advisory
Board; conveys strategic decisions to Association • Acts on behalf of Association
Funds and fund-raising
• So much we want to achieve, but no “spending culture” in SA
• Fundraisers not well supported or attended
Solution?
• Draw alumni in another way. Speak to them personally and ask how they plan to make a difference.
• Build pride in the USB and alumni achievers by providing more platforms for recognition and rewards
• Start with the students. Include final-year students in regional alumni networking events.
Database
• Historical data outdated needs to be integrated into new systems and updated.
• Duplication due to multiple study programmes at both USB and USB-ED
• Updates difficult because alumni change jobs or companies block mass emails
• Email fatigue – alumni do not read their mailers anymore and many alumni unsubscribe
Solution?
• Appoint 1dedicated staffer to update database and investigate missing information
• Spread the word that the web portal allows alumni to update their own details
